Vatican and Rome Jewish community to host landmark menorah exhibition
ROME (Reuters) – The Vatican and Rome’s Jewish museum will jointly host an unprecedented exhibition on the menorah, the ancient symbol of Judaism, and try to put to rest legends on the fate of one candelabra missing for 15 centuries.
After seven years of bailouts, Greeks sink yet deeper in poverty
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek pensioner Dimitra says she never imagined a life reduced to food handouts: some rice, two bags of pasta, a packet of chickpeas, some dates and a tin of milk for the month.
Kremlin says Ukraine peace plan mooted by lawmaker ‘absurd’
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Monday it had no prior knowledge of a Ukrainian lawmaker’s peace plan for his country, which was detailed in the New York Times newspaper, and called it absurd anyway.
Italy’s anti-discrimination chief quits after gay sex club scandal
ROME (Reuters) – The head of Italy’s anti-discrimination office resigned on Monday after accusations that government funds meant to promote diversity projects and tackle racism had been earmarked for gay sex clubs masquerading as cultural centers.
France’s far right denounces ‘media stunt’ over fake jobs probe
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front accused authorities of staging a media stunt on Monday to influence the presidential election after police searched its headquarters in an investigation into “fake jobs”.
Colombian police suspect ELN rebels behind bullring explosion
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian authorities suspect Marxist ELN rebels were behind a bomb attack near Bogota’s bullring on Sunday, leaving dozens of police officers injured as they prepared for anti-bullfighting protests in Colombia’s capital.
Trump’s defense chief: ‘We’re not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil’
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The U.S. military is “not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil”, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, distancing himself from remarks by President Donald Trump, as he held talks with Iraqi leaders on Monday.
Iran summons Turkish envoy over comments by president, foreign minister
BEIRUT/ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran summoned the Turkish ambassador in Tehran on Monday over comments made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and President Tayyip Erdogan accusing the Islamic Republic of destabilizing the region.
France’s ‘Spiderman’ jailed for 8 years for 100 million-euro art heist
PARIS (Reuters) – A criminal known as “Spiderman” was jailed for eight years on Monday for stealing five paintings worth 100 million euros ($106 million) from a Paris museum.
Turkish soldiers accused of trying to kill Erdogan go on trial
MUGLA, Turkey (Reuters) – Prosecutors called for life sentences for more than 40 Turkish soldiers on Monday at the start of their trial for attempting to assassinate President Tayyip Erdogan during last year’s failed coup, according to the indictment o…
